Rampage (A Night Fire Novel Book 4)
Read Rampage (A Night Fire Novel Book 4) Online
Authors: TM Watkins
Rampage
A Night Fire Novel
By TM Watkins
Copyright 2015 TM Watkins
Copyright © 2015 TM WATKINS
This book is a work of fiction. The names of characters, places and incidents are products of the writers imagination and are not to be interpreted as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locals or organizations is entirely coincidental. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without the written permission from the author.
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Contents
My head thumped as I stood in front of the closed elevator doors. I could feel the taunting gaze of those in the car with me as I held my phone to my ear, listening to the scolding words of an idiot. I shouldn't have answered the phone. I should have ignored him as I had done all weekend but I couldn't avoid this any longer. Even though I was being weighed down with lethargy I knew that this new lease on life didn't include my asshole agent.
Whispers burned against me, the people behind were guaranteed to sell what they heard to a tabloid. It was a harsh world for the famous, it wasn't all parties and waltzing up the red carpet. The real truth was that every moment of this life was watched, photographed and filmed. If I did something newsworthy, it was sold at a premium price.
Last week I walked out of the gym looking less than perfect and it was spread over the tabloids within the hour. I was bloated the week before and apparently I was pregnant even though there was no obvious indication of a male being in my life. Speculation was rife, hidden relationships, donor sperm and the possibility of a mystery man. Anything that would give reason as to why I had a pot belly. It's called life people, I am a woman and this shit happens on a regular basis.
It infuriates me but I have to accept it. If it weren't for the photos that increase interest within the movie going public, I might not have a fan base. It was a ridiculous thought, after fifteen years in the movie industry I shouldn't have to worry about losing fans. But as always, I was overcautious. I behaved. I did what I was told and maintained the image that has kept me going for so long.
Not any longer. The weekend was likely to kill whatever career I had. Did I care? No. I was tired of my former life and wanted something new and refreshing. I had a taste of it on the weekend and I didn't want to let go of it. I craved for more.
Seph my sister was by my side, she could probably hear his berating words. I was done with this conversation.
“Bill.” I interrupted the tirade. “I'm done. You're fired.”
“Excuse me?” he hissed. “I don't think I heard you correctly.”
“No Bill, I do think you heard me correctly, I said you're fired. I don't need your bullshit when I'm hungover.”
My little sister raised an eyebrow at me as the doors opened and we wandered through the lobby of the hotel.
“Your stupid premature midlife crisis in Vegas is all over the news. Your sister has splashed photos all over social media and you're firing
me
?” he sputtered down the phone.
“I'm not really interested at this point in time.” I sighed rather disinterested in the whole thing. “I'm about to give up the whole movie star shit really.”
Bill gasped. Seph approached the reception desk and spoke with a very lovely blonde lady while I tried to end the conversation. Huddled in an area off to the side of the front desk was a group of young people, whispering as they watched me. I could see they were waiting to approach. At least they had the decency to wait until I was off the phone, I'd suffered people who couldn't.
Bill kept stuttering which frustrating and a little annoying. The man didn't have a speech impediment, he was just flustering and dragging out the conversation. I guess his aim was to bring me back no matter what it took.
“You can't... you're signed to...”
“Yes I know. Another movie about me maintaining the wholesome girl next door image. I'm over it and you. Goodbye Bill.”
I hung up the phone, my sister clapping her hands excitedly as we approached her car.
“Finally.” she said a little too cheerily for this hour of the morning. “I've been waiting years for you to tell that fuckwit to take a hike.”
“Seph.” I chastised her.
“Seriously, if it were me and it has been me, I would have done it years ago, wait...” she gripped my arm. “I did tell the fuckwit to take a hike years ago.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
The attendant started loading the bags into the trunk, there were so many. I really had gone overboard with the shopping.
Something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye, the group of young people that I'd momentarily forgotten about. All it took was a smile and they knew it was okay to approach. I liked these kinds of fans, they were appreciative and were hesitant to invade my personal space.
I signed dozens of bits of paper, had lots of photos taken with them and patiently waited until they were happy. Not that the attendant or the people who were waiting for their car to be filled were happy. They can wait. I was basking in the glow of happy fans, ones that made me smile. Though after the weekend I was sure that the smile on my face could never be removed.
The valet cleared his throat as the attendant shut the trunk of the car.
“Okay guys, that's us done. Sorry.”
This could end a multitude of ways. The worst was anger, the so called fan calling me a prima donna and a waste of space. The best was the fan being all smiles and grateful that I actually stopped for them. I had the latter. They smiled and waved goodbye as they walked away, happy with the world as it was.
Happiness filled the air, I took a deep breath and sighed with a huge grin. Seph shook her head at me as she took the keys from the valet.
“Are you really signed to another movie?”
“Still in negotiations.”
“Wicked, ditch it and get something better.” she grinned.
“Bill said you put pictures on social media.”
Seph shrugged, feigning disinterest.
“Yeah. I may have put a few out there. So what? You got your list done, you had a freaking great couple of days and you shed some dead weight. Sounds like total positives to me.”
We both climbed into the car, I sighed as I rested my head against the seat.
“So what are you going to do now?”
“Well, after I get home and sleep for about two days I guess I will have to find a new agent.” I shrugged. “See if there is anything left of my career.”
“Oh puh-lease.” she scoffed. “As if you are the first Hollywood starlet to go on a Vegas bender. Get over yourself.”
This was my little sister at her best, realistic, blunt and brutal. It probably came with the name, not taking any shit from anyone. Our parents were definitely out there when it came to naming their children. Me, the oldest and an unannounced guest at their shotgun wedding was dutifully named Harmony. I think it was their way of trying to instill a bit of it among their unimpressed parents. Next down was our brother Maverick because apparently they loved the movie Top Gun. He was grateful they didn't name him Goose. Much to his disgust, I gave it to him as a nickname.
Seph was next to be born, given the lovely name of Persephone, which she hates. The newest addition was our youngest brother who was a twentieth wedding anniversary vacation present. They named him Ezekiel. The poor bugger, now ten and really suffering the taunts, he makes everyone call him Zeke. The poor ol' Roberts children and their stupid names. Lucky us.
I wound down the window, soaking in the hot desert wind. Leaving Vegas was only a temporary alteration in my new life plan, things were going to change for the better. I couldn't wait.
A new zest for this life was making me smile even though I had a horrid hangover. The past two days have been crazy but they have been the best ever. All thanks to a mad sister and a gorgeous man.
My phone rang again, this time it was my father. No doubt the slime ball Bill has called him and ratted me out. Way to kill the buzz,
jerk.
With another big sigh I glanced at Seph and answered the call.
“Hey old man, how's it hangin?”
“Long and carefree, which is more than I can say for Bill.”
“Gee what a surprise.” I scoffed.
“He said you called him a useless wanker.”
“Sounds like something I would say.”
Even though I didn't. So now the rat has taken to lying about me to my own father. Great.
“Your little vacation is all over the internet, tell Seph that we are going to have words.”
Seph rolled her eyes as she made some scoffing noise. My father's words were his usual cool, calm and collected. He didn't stress about anything.
“Dad, just ignore Bill.”
“Who are you going to get to manage you?”
“You can.”
“Like hell I will.” he chortled. “I don't need that kind of nightmare in my life.”
“Gee thanks.”
I should take offense to that. I am not a nightmare, I am an angel. Okay so the past couple of days have been the complete opposite but two days out of thirty years was a good run, right?
“Look, just meet up with him when you get back, kiss and make up, it's all good.”
“No way. I'm out, just like Seph.”
I could hear my father groaning, remembering the conversation he had with her when she dumped Bill as a manager.
“He was so rude Dad. He scolded me like I was a child. For Christ's sake, I'm thirty and still being typecast in the same roles. He never bothered to listen to me about changing.”
He hummed, agreeing with me. We had discussed it before I approached Bill. My parents, in particular my father were the people that I always spoke to first about everything I did. I found solace in their words and advice, they had never steered me wrong.
When I had decided that I wanted to try different roles, I talked to them for hours about it. They both agreed that a little deviation from the good girl roles wouldn't be too bad. My father warned that my career could take a nose dive if I chose the wrong role and that I should be careful.
But his advice was pointless when nothing was being offered, or at least I don't think it was. Who would know what comes into Bill's ratty grip?
“So, is everything I've heard true?”
“Yes...” I sighed again. “I got married.”
It was true, I really had got married. Not something that I had intended for my weekend away nor for my life at the moment really. But he was so irresistible. Down to earth, funny, cheeky and adorable. I wasn't sure if it was love which was thoroughly stupid considering that we had married but I was prepared to give it a go.
The tone of my father's voice had altered slightly, he wasn't one to tell me I had done the wrong thing considering he'd knocked my mother up before getting married but I knew he wasn't impressed.
Five minutes later Seph and I were on the road, returning to LA. As I nestled into the seat I pulled out my turning thirty list, the list that I made when I had gotten too drunk one night and decided that my life was a living hell. It was a 'must complete within forty eight hours' to do list. All of the things that I wanted to do, now that I had turned thirty. I was at that point, unmarried, unattached, rich and bored.
As I slowly slipped into sleep, I thought of the list, the days that had just passed. This was the list that had changed my life.